Container



R. E. KRENGEL conumna Filod Jul 9, 1957 Patented I 23, 1940 UNITED STATES comma Richard E. Krengcl, Detroit, Mich, assignor to g The American Paper Bottle Company, a corporation of Ohio Application July 9, 1937, Serial No. 152,819

5 Claims. (Cl. 229-51) The present invention relates to paper containers and particularly containers designed and intended for use in the storage, transportation and distribution of liquid products.

5 In Patent No. 2,047,891, issued to Henry T. Scott July 14, 1936, is disclosed a coated paper container which has proven eminently successful in the packaging and dispensing of liquids such as milk. The container is fabricated from a 10 single paper sheet or blank, such blank being first divided into panels by score lines and the panels being thereafter relatively folded about such score lines as hinge lines, the ultimate article being rectangular in cross-section with a S fiat bottom and a peaked closure portion at its other end which terminates in a relatively stiff centrally located and transversely extending rib comprising a plurality of panels brought into parallel relationship and secured in such rela- 20 tionship as by means of a staple or a suitable adhesive. 1

Opening of the container for the purpose of removalof its contents is ordinarily efiected by removal of the staple, if one is used, and un- 25 folding and separating the several panels which together comprise the rib. Prior to closure, all portions of the surface of the container are coated with paraffin or like liquid proofing subparafiin, which prevents the egress of liquid, evenj upon inversion of the container. When the container is opened, the paramn seals intermediate the panels are broken. The rib preferably has a thickness of six plies or panels. The two innermost or central panels are unprovided with closure flaps and the free upper edges ofthese panels terminate in a plane disposed normally to the axis of the container. Two of the outer 5 panels are provided with closure flaps and, in the final closing operation, one of these flaps is folded over the free upper edges of the inner panels in one direction and the other flap is folded over the rib in the opposite direction, the flaps being brought into parallel relationship with 'the inner panels and a six-ply rib resulting. In accordance with the present invention means is provided for facilitating the opening of the container, which means likewise assists in 5 the sealing of the container against the accidental escape of liquid prior to opening. This means comprises a cord, a part of which is retained within or embedded in the rib and a part of which projects from the end of the rib so that it may be readily grasped by anyone holding the 5 container and desiring to effect opening thereof. The cord is either caused to liedirectlyupon the free upper. edges of the inner panels of the rib, in which event it will underlie both of the curved webs which connect the outer panels, and their attached flaps, or is caused to lie intermediate the upper and lower panel and flap connecting webs. In' the first instance the operator, by pulling the exposed end of the cord in a direction transverse to the rib, can cause the'cord to cut or sever both such connecting webs. In the second instance the outer or uppermost connecting web only will be severed when the cord is pulled in the specified manner. In either case, however, by the action of the cord, opening of the container is facilitated and likewise the container seal is more effective while the cord is in position. The invention will be particularly effective in the event that an adhesive is used which causes a stronger bond between the panels of the rib than parafiin, and where the use of the staple or other positive securing device is dispensed with. In such a case the action of the cord is to sever one or bothv of the panel and flap interconnecting webs, depending upon theso positioning of the cord, so that spreading apart of the inner panels of the rib can be readily effected by simple pulling or prizing operations, itbeing unnecessary to dislodge and unfold either or both of the rib flaps.

Notwithstanding, however, that the invention finds its greatest field of usefulness in cases where strong adhesives are made use of, for securing the rib panels together, it is of great" utility where the weaker adhesives, .such as" 40 parafiin, are employed, and mechanical means such as staples or stitches used to further strengthen the rib. a

The invention may be embodied in containers which vary in design but, as has been previously pointed out, it is particularly useful in the fabrication of containers of the type described and illustrated in the Scott Patent No. 2,047,891 and will be specifically described as incorporated in such a container.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 illustrates in perspective a container of the type shown in Patent 2,047,891, the container being substantially completed, the outer rib flap, however, yet remaining unfolded and tained beneath the outer fiap after this is finally folded;

Figure 2 is a perspective container;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the container after the cord has been manipulated to sever the web between the outer panels and after the container has been further acted upon and fully opened;

Figure 4 is a transverse section through the container rib of Figure 2 the rib being shown, however, upon a somewhat larger scale;

Figure 5 is a section similar to that of Figure 4 but showing the cord differently positioned.

Fora complete description of the details of construction of thecontainer, and the method of folding the same, reference may be had to Patent No. 2,047,891, previously mentioned. It need only be said that the container comprises a pinrality of panels, folded relatively to each other along intermediate score lines into the tubular shapes shown, the bottom being fiat'and the top or end closure, generally indicated at It, being peaked and having a central transverse rib indicated at H. In cross-section this rib comprises a plurality of plies or panel thicknesses, two inner panels l2 having their free upper edges terminating in a plane transverse to the axis of the container body and the outer panels l3 and I! being connected respectively by means of curved elongated webs l5 and it, which pass over the upper edges of the inner panels l2, with the inner flap I1 and the outer fiap l8 respectively. The various rib panels are all parallel to each other and tightly pressed together, the surfaces of these panels as well as all'panel surfaces of the container being coated with parafiln or like liquid proofing substance.

A staple is indicated at Hi, this staple passing through the completed rib and preventing separation of the panels due to shock or impact, the usual liquid proofing substance, such as paraflin, having insufficient bonding strength to cause the various panels of the rib to adhere to each other under all conditions, without the use of mechanical securing means. In the form of the inventionshown in Figures 1, 2 and 4,.the' cord .which is provided for facilitating opening of the container is indicated at 20 and is seen to have a part which lies intermediate the webs l5 and I8 of the rib, so as to be in effect embedded in the rib, and parts which project from the ends of the rib, as indicated in Figure 2. The cord is fabricated of any suitable fibrous material, such as cotton and, when finally positioned in the completed rib, has accommodated itself to the space available and is completely surrounded and coated with parafiin. The paper of which the con view of the completed 'tainer is made, while relatively stiff and of good quality, may nevertheless be readily torn or severed by one whograsps one free end of the cord and pulls it in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rib, preferably pulling the end of the cord in a direction parallel to the axis of the container so that the web IS, in the form of the invention shown in Figure 4, is most easily cut or severed by the cord. To eflect complete opening of the container after the cord has thus been manipulated, it is only necessary to loosen the staple i9 and pull the outer panels of the rib in opposite directions, the inner fiap I! being readily withdrawn from the position-in which it is shown in Figure 4 and the inner panels being drawn into position substantially normal to the 4 the cord having been positioned so as to be reouter panels, from which positions they may be readily moved into container pouring position, as shown in Figure 3. The severed flap It will continue to adhere to the outer panel i3, as shown in Figure 3.

In the event that the cord is positioned directly in contact with the free upper edges of the necting webs l5 and ii, a cross-section through the rib will be as illustrated ,in Figure 5. By means of the cord, therefore, both of the crossconnecting webs l5 and I6 can be severed at one time, thus making it. unnecessary to dislodge the panels l2, and beneath both of the cross-coninner flap I'I in the opening of the container.

The cord may therefore be used as means for severing either one or both of the cross-connecting webs of the outer rib panels; When it is positioned as shown in Figure 5 it is particularly useful in the event that an adhesive stronger than parafiin has been used to secure the several rib panels together since, after the crossconnecting webs l5 and it are severed and the cord removed, the bond between the mutually engaging surfaces II of the inner panels may be broken, either by the insertion of a knife or by forcible pulling apart of the side panels. The cord likewise, in either form of the invention,

serves as a cushioning means, absorbing shock due to impact of the rib against objects during transportation and thus tending to prevent material injury to the rib.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A- paper bottle having a folded end closure.

which includes a rib comprising a plurality of panels secured in fixed relationship, an adhesive sealing said closure and securing said panels together, a cord having a part within the rib and a part projecting therefrom, the portion of the rib overlying the cord being adapted to be severed when the free end of the cord is pulled in a direction transverse to the rib, said adhesive coating said cord and said coated cord filling and sealing a fold in said rib to prevent transverse leakage therein.

2. A paper bottle having a folded end closure which includes arib, the outer members of the rib comprising spaced parallel panels connected by a web and forming a fold channel, and a cord having a part intermediate said parallel panels,

filling the fold channel, and underlying said web, said cord also having a part projecting from the rib, the inner portion of said cord being coated with an adhesive to fill and seal said channel against leakage. 4

having free edges terminating in a plane and outer parallel panels engaging the inner panels, a cord disposed parallel to and on said free edges and having a projecting part, a web overlying and retaining said cord, said web connecting the two outer panels of the rib, and adhesive coating all meeting parts of the rib and cord whereby the cord assists in forming a seal over said edges.

cord, connecting the two outer panels of the rib,

and pressing said cord against said first web to hold the same into engagement with said free edges, and sealing adhesive sticking all parts of parallel to said free edges and having a part projecting from the rib, adhesive on said cord and edges to form a seal over the edges, and two webs overlying and retaining said cord, each web connecting two parallel panels of the rib.

RICHARD E. KRENGEL. 

